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Gen Mukhtar expressed that authorities and police must be free from all political influence. —DawnNews screengrab

KARACHI: Speaking at length about problems being faced by violence-hit Karachi, challenges of the militancy it had been going through and solution to come out of the woods, Corps Commander Karachi Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar said on Saturday the ‘authorities’ failed to deliver ‘necessary infrastructure and services’ which gave birth to criminal and vested groups whether ‘political, ethnic or sectarian.’

Addressing a workshop on national security in collaboration with the National Defence University, Gen Mukhtar shared his thoughts about problems being faced by the business capital for the past three decades, the recent approach of the security administration to restore peace in the city and recent success of the ongoing operation in Karachi.

He blamed ‘vested interest’ and ‘political expediencies’ for shortcomings.

“The ongoing operation is well-coordinated, sustained and across the board,” he said.

“However due to vested interests, political expediencies, sponsored militancy, patronage of vested groups, ethnic, sectarian and political disharmony the effect is fluctuating.”

Vested interest and political expediencies affect Karachi operation

The corps commander highlighted the future course of action which suggested it was not going to end anytime. He was of the view that operation for restoring peace in Karachi would lead to fix all other ills as well.

He said the operation was apolitical and across the board. He also underlined the need for curbing white collar crime.

“It’s important to note that the operation in Karachi should not be seen as an end in itself. It is the beginning of an end and thus the first stage for eventual elimination of ills in political, administrative and law and order spheres in the city,” he said.

Menace of terrorism

Highlighting the core reasons behind decades-old menace of terrorism and violence in the city, he referred to failure of institutions and governance that led to creation of a vacuum, which were ultimately filled by criminals and vested interest groups.

“Unfortunately the authorities responsible for governance and administration have failed to provide necessary infrastructure and services to most of the areas. Furthermore the institutional vacuum created was filled by criminals and special interest groups whether political, ethnic or sectarian,” he said.

“Faced with lack of basic services, people turn to these syndicates for assistance and protection. Resultantly, this has given rise to the booming land-grabbing business and lucrative but illegal delivery of essential services. Competition for control of these resources and areas triggers turf wars between rival mafias and interest groups.”

General Mukhtar said ‘blurred’ boundaries between political activism and criminal activities further decayed the Karachi peace over the years which gradually transformed into terrorism and militancy.

“Unfortunately boundaries between political activism, terrorism, assassination, land mafia, extortion and drug dealing criminality have become blurred and at times intersect. Resultantly crime has transformed into terrorism and militancy,” he said.

Like recent messages from the army leadership through different forums about the Karachi operation and the war on terror, General Mukhtar showed the resolve for ‘logical end’ of the entire exercise.

“We are living through the defining times and failure is not an option,” he said.

“Together we must decisively and whole-heartedly translate our policies into meaningful and coordinated measures that can lead to a stable environment, secure from fear, extremism and militancy with firmly established writ of the state and rule of law.”

On DawnNews

Comments (22) Closed

Army's role today is praised by all. This is the first time Army is doing it right and at the same time not coming out of its domain. Raheel Sharif is a very popular General in Pakistan.

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Khan-Haqiqi

May 17, 2015 10:12am

Any thoughts on accepting the mandate of Karachi and let Karachities be allowed to rule the city, jobs for locals , share of Karachi from the revenue it generates etc. Etc... Everyone knows the real problem of Karachi but dont want to solve it

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Khan

May 17, 2015 10:31am

Generals are always good speakers as we have earlier seen in the shape Zia ul Haque and Pervez Musharaf.

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Khan

May 17, 2015 10:31am

@Fawad All Generals are popular.

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imrankhan

May 17, 2015 10:59am

General Mukhtar is looking so young, probably will be the Army chief at the time of his retirement, good insight on karachi situation.

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salman

May 17, 2015 11:26am

No comment or reaction from Sindh government, seems they have accepted what has been said by the General.

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@sam

May 17, 2015 11:29am

we are with rangers...

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Zaheer

May 17, 2015 11:40am

Right on the money in pointing out the underlying cause of Karachi situation. But the prospect of eliminating that vacume looks bleak with present political forces in control.

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Dilawar Khan

May 17, 2015 11:44am

Truth is spoken, not read!!

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rafiq

May 17, 2015 11:56am

Generals always show their wisdom in civil govts. They don't run the parallel govt rather they run the govt behind the scenes

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Arshad

May 17, 2015 12:33pm

Root causes are very correctly elaborated by the General sb, known to all. What will be the countermeasures to eradicate completely, once for ever. Good thing is all political wings are supporting for long term solution.

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Mustafa

May 17, 2015 12:37pm

The only solution is that Karachi be goverened by Karachi representative not by bruecracy or Provincial assembly.

Of course the police has to be local and from the comminity , and free of politics.
Criminals who ever they are no mercy for them

And by Karachi representative it mean who ever is elected be it MQM or others.

There is no other way the sooner we realise the better it is.

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Haroon Lohar

May 17, 2015 12:39pm

I have all kind words for Pak Army. Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif is great speaker and seeker of truth. Pakistan is passing through traumatic phase and nation requires to stand by Pak Army in this testing time. I am proud of Pak Army particularly Mr Raheel Sharif and Corps Commander Sindh. Live long.

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ishrat salim

May 17, 2015 12:47pm

We are with you, yes ! failure is not an option.

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neutral

May 17, 2015 12:54pm

The message is quite clear. Failure to deliver and serve on part of authorities has created a vaccum which ultimately filled by criminals and their sponsors. The criminals are being handled effectively but their Sponsors are yet to be netted. This is what the last DG Sind Rangers. Gen Ridwan Akhtar, now DG ISI, also used to say. He did not have space to tackle the situation due to political patronage - which has been fixed to a great extent. Hopefully the hostage people of Karachi will be freed now.

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Culture Vulture

May 17, 2015 01:34pm

Absolutely correct general. Why this mammoth city is running without mass-transit system and effective local government? The use of rangers and police force is not going to have lasting peace in Karachi.

However, he is absolutely right about the fact that a police free from political meddling is absolutely necessary to maintain law and order situation in Karachi. What is important is to establish a board comprised of reputed people to monitor the activities of police department and have the authority to promote, demote and transfer to police officer. This way it will remain independent and fearless in round up criminals, even those, who are operating under the umbrella of political parties.

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saeeds

May 17, 2015 01:55pm

Why people afraid to mention popluation as the root cause of all the problem

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Tariq

May 17, 2015 03:11pm

One of major factor contributing unrest and maladministration was NRO.

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Citizen of Karachi

May 17, 2015 06:54pm

@Khan-Haqiqi

You are absolutely right. The elephant in the room is being ignired by all and sundry. The general refers to failures of insitutions and that of governance but fails to state that a city of 20 million is/was being run like a municipality with non-local bureaucrats running the municipal sevices for almost a decade now. With a criminal lack of administrative structure in Karachi run by locals, does the general or his colleagues seriously think that Karachi could be tamed. One shudders to think if this is the extent of the strategy that the generals have for Karachi.

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col venkatavappa rao retd indian army.

May 17, 2015 10:37pm

it is a masterly analysis which is true in all metropolises to a greater or lesser extent in the subcontinent

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Khan

May 18, 2015 06:09am

I think a General lecturing on civilian matters depicts the complete failure of our political setup and military profesdionalism.

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Khan

May 18, 2015 06:14am

He has given a complete charge sheet to our present and past Federal and provincial governments. Is he trying to be the next installed Governor of Sindh ?